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Frequently Asked Questions


Our Alzheimer’s Charity

Is my donation to Racing to End Alzheimer’s tax-deductible?

Yes. It will appear on your records as a donation to California Community Foundation, earmarked for Racing to End Alzheimer’s. Each year, racing season begins in January and ends in October, so if you donate during the off-season (after the last race deadline), your honoree’s name will qualify for the next racing season. However, you will still get the tax credit for the year in which you donate. You are welcome to donate toward multiple seasons and will enjoy the same early write-off.

What will my donation actually be used for?

One hundred percent of your donation to Racing to End Alzheimer’s will be distributed as a grant to our beneficiaries, which are dedicated to Alzheimer’s research and care. At this time, those are the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program and the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist. From time to time, we include other worthy organizations and those will appear as a choice when you register your donation on our website.

What is an honoree and who can I add to the race car?

If you know someone who is living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, or who has succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, we encourage you to add their name to the car.  We don’t allow names of organizations, just individual honorees.

What portion of my donation will go toward Racing to End Alzheimer’s administrative costs?

None! All of our organization’s administrative costs are covered by Legistics, Inc., a for-profit company owned by Racing to End Alzheimer’s founder Phil Frengs. Phil started Racing to End Alzheimer’s to honor his wife Mimi in her journey with Alzheimer’s disease, and to help fund the Care and the Cure. Every dollar you contribute goes to the cause.

Is Racing to End Alzheimer’s a 501(c)3 charitable organization?

While we have applied to become an official non-profit, at this time we are still a donor-managed fund. That means we operate under the umbrella of California Community Foundation (CalFund), which is a 501(c)3. Your tax-deductible donation goes through them and is distributed under our direction. Our beneficiaries are also 501(c)3 non-profits.


Your Honoree and Donation

When will you add the name of my honoree to the car?

When you donate to Racing to End Alzheimer’s, your honoree’s name is added to both our race car and to our tribute car as well. The names on our race car are usually added just prior to each race, so timing varies according to the schedule. A typical racing season runs from January to October each year. The names on our tribute car are updated more frequently, and we apply them on a rolling basis as we accumulate enough names to economically order a batch printed.

Can I just donate to the organization without naming an honoree?

Of course! In the fight against Alzheimer’s, we are grateful to accept donations of any size. All of it is matched and goes toward Alzheimer’s research and care. And if you decide to donate $250 or more, we’ll use those funds to sponsor someone who may otherwise not be able to afford to honor their loved one.

What is the Wall of Champions? Will my honoree be on it?

The Wall of Champions is a webpage that Racing to End Alzheimer’s created to acknowledge our honorees. We like to think it gives them a lasting presence that endures beyond the race season. Once their name, hometown, photo and tribute text have been added to the page, they will stay there unless the donor requests that they be updated or removed.

For those who add a name to our race car, addition to the Wall of Champions is included as part of their $250 donation. Not planning to add a name to the race car? No problem. You can add a loved one to the Wall of Champions for only a $25 contribution.

Can I arrange to have my honoree appear on the car each year?

Yes, but please be advised that we don’t offer a “discount” for donating toward multiple seasons. Each racing season costs $250 per name. Donors may pay in advance for as many seasons as they’d like. One hundred percent of proceeds are matched and contributed to our benefactors.


Our Alzheimer’s Donation Process

What’s the process for making a donation?

To donate to Racing to End Alzheimer’s, click here. When prompted, you’ll fill out a registration form with your loved one’s name and hometown, in addition to your own contact information. Once that’s done, click “Complete Donation Now” and you’ll be taken to the California Community Foundation (CalFund) site, which will process the monetary portion of the donation. 

Once that is complete, you’ll receive an email from Racing to End Alzheimer’s confirming your honoree’s registration along with a separate email from CalFund confirming your donation.

Will you notify me when my honoree’s name is on the car?

We will email you once we have a photo of your loved one’s name on the car, which you are welcome to share on social media. Remember to tag us! @Racing2EndAlz on Instagram and @R2EA on Facebook.

How can I view the car when it has my honoree’s name on it?

Make sure you have been added to our email list as we send out reminders prior to race days! Many of our races are broadcast live, so you’ll want to set up to record them and see your honoree’s name in action.

You are always welcome to join us at a race — we’d love to meet you there in person in the Paddock or on Fan Walk! Season dates vary, so remember to join our newsletter and follow us on Instagram or Facebook to keep updated and see photos of our Tribute Car as it moves around the country.


Our Alzheimer’s Donation Beneficiaries

What Alzheimer’s charities does Racing to End Alzheimer’s support?

Our funds currently benefit two Alzheimer’s charities doing incredible work in the Alzheimer’s research and care spaces. The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program provides guidance and care to families coping with these challenges. The Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist conducts cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research. By benefiting these two Alzheimer’s charities, we wanted to make sure we were supporting not only scientific research but critical outreach and care as well.

Why did you choose the Alzheimer’s charities that receive your funding?

The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program is where Phil Frengs’s wife Mimi was first evaluated and treated for early-onset Alzheimer’s. Both Phil and Mimi are UCLA graduates. It’s an award-winning, widely-lauded program that helps families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist is one of the research teams at the forefront of medicine that is doing critical work identifying the causes and possible treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Do you support other organizations from time to time?

Yes. As examples, we supported Baycrest Foundation on behalf of our Canadian donors and partners. We also held a special one-time event to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Missouri. Our goals are to help families, increase awareness and find a cure. When specific opportunities arise to further the cause and engage our donors in new ways, we evaluate them in light of those goals.

How much has Racing to End Alzheimer’s raised for Alzheimer’s research and care?

To date, we have raised over $600,000, all of which is granted to our beneficiaries to fund the care and the cure.

What’s the best way for me to share news about my donation and your work in the fight against Alzheimer’s?

You can find us on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Linkedin as well. You can also add your name to our mailing list to receive updates about race results and our other activities.